The Fuel of Good Works
Titus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Welcome:
Quarterly Memory Verse
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. — 1 Corinthians 13:1-4
Announcements:
New memory verse
Prayer resumes on the 14th
Sunday lunches resume on the 19th
# 459
†CALL TO WORSHIP based on Psalm 130:5-7 Pastor Austin Prince
Minister: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
Congregation: My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.
Minister: People of God, hope in the Lord! There is no darkness in him.
Congregation: There is no darkness with you, O Lord. For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous redemption.
Minister: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Let us worship God!
†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION
We praise and honor you, Lord God Almighty, for all your mercy and loving-kindness shown to us your people. We bless you for the goodness that freely chose us to salvation before the world began. We thank you for creating us after your own image; for redeeming us, when we were lost, with the precious blood of Christ; for sanctifying us by your Spirit in the revelation and knowledge of your Word; for your help and support in our necessities, your fatherly comfort in our tribulations; for saving us in the dangers of body and soul, and giving us so long a time of repentance. We acknowledge, most merciful Father, to have received these benefits from your goodness alone, and we implore you to continue to be gracious to increase our thankfulness to you, kindling our hearts with pure and fervent love. Help us not to receive your Word in vain, but graciously assist us always, in heart, word, and deed, to sanctify and worship your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
†OPENING PSALM OF PRAISE #48A
“Great Is the Lord Our God”
†CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON
based on I Tim. 1:15; I Pet. 2:24
Minister: Let us confess our sins to our Holy God:
Congregation: Eternal God, you do not change. You have revealed yourself to us in your word. You call us to worship in spirit and in truth. We confess that we often worship not your true self, but who we wish you to be. We often ask you to bless what we do, rather than seeking to do what you bless. We seek concessions when we should be seeking guidance. Forgive us, O God.
Forgive us for selfish and half-hearted worship; worship that tries to shape you into what we want, rather than shaping us into what you want us to be. You have drawn near. Help us to meet you here. Give us love and reverence for you, bowing before your unspeakable majesty, and living for you now and ever, in Christ. Amen.
Minister: This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good.
CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Psalm 21
Steven Hoffer, Elder
THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
†HYMN OF PREPARATION #172
“Speak, O Lord”
SERMON Titus 3:3-8 // The Fuel of Good Works
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
As we now give attention to your word, open our eyes, that we might behold wonderful things from your law through our Lord Jesus Christ.
TEXT TITUS 3:3-8
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
AFTER SCRIPTURE
Teach me your way, O Lord and I will walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
INTRO
INTRO
Central theme and question:
How is it that God motivates us? And why does that motivation matter? Why does the type of fuel that fires the Christian life have such importance and significance?
Brief summary of the text and why it matters:
Titus 3 is a chapter about how Christians are to live faithfully among the world. God has something that he wants us to be devoted (motivated) to do — That is, “to be devoted to good works that are profitable to people” (v.8).
But a good deal of the emphasis surrounding this command is getting our motivations right. That is, making sure that our good works are powered by the right fuel.
Because it’s possible to do good works in a number of ways that, as Titus puts it, are unhelpful. And you remember when some men came to Jesus and said “Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not do many great works in your name?’” (these good works), and Jesus says, “depart from me, for I never knew you” (Matt. 7:22-23).
Is God being fickle? Is God being hard to please? Does He make life such a puzzle that we have to be insecure and figure out the secret maze of motivations to do anything good and pleasing? No, it’s not about the fickleness of God at all, it’s about the fickleness and confusion that abounds within us. We are the ones that often have a difficulty in seeing what moves and animates us. We are the ones who don’t quite understand our motives.
So what Paul is interested in over the next few verses is making sure we know not only what type of works that we should be devoted to, but he is keenly interested in that we know why we are to do them.
Frame the outline:
Today, I want us to look at three possible motivations (fuels) for good works from this text. Three motivators are mentioned, but only one is appropriate. There is only one that God would have us use as the right fuel for good works.
Fear
Pride
Grace
Fear Illustration
Fear Illustration
A friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the writer of the Sherlock Holmes books, was telling him that he believed everyone has some secret or skeleton in their closet that would put them to shame if it were exposed.
Seeking to test this thought, Mr. Doyle pulled a wicked prank. He sent anonymous letters to twelve men of high social standing (politicians and clergymen) which read, “All has been discovered! Fly at once!”
The story goes that all twelve men packed their things and fled their homes as they waited for scandal to break and ruin their lives.
Now, I’m not certain if that is a legend or if it really happened, but I am certain that fear is a powerful motivator. A sense of guilt and shame feels like a nakedness that you want nothing more than to cover up and be out of the spotlight.
And right in the middle of this call to be faithful to good works, Paul drags in a list of the Cretan’s sins. What is this all about? In vv.3-5 he says,
Fear, Guilt, and Shame (v.3)
Fear, Guilt, and Shame (v.3)
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, (Titus 3:3–5, ESV)
Explanation:
Is Paul reminding them of their sins in a way to shame them? Is he driving them to obedience at the crack of a whip? No, his goal is not to humiliate them because of their sins, but to remind them that their sins are in the past. They once were sinners. At one time, their lives bore the fruit of bad works. Paul lists three broad characteristics of their life (our lives) in sin: they were marked by foolish, slavishness, and relational friction. But God saved us. Not only did He pardon us, but He redeemed us. Changed our thoughts and appetites and motives and our very hearts. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ — new creations.
But the Christians in Crete (and the Christians in this room)need this reminder because it’s still so easy to be motivated by fear.
Maybe you think, ‘I’m not afraid of God? He’s talking to Christians, surely they are not afraid of God.’ Many in the Church would say the same. But fear’s work can be subtle as it works on us in two primary ways:
Fear wants to hide.
Like a kid who quickly picks up his pencil and pretends to be busy when the teacher walks by, fear wants to go unnoticed. Are there any areas where our good works are trying to do that? To keep God’s eye off of us? Are there any areas where you want God to look away?
Good works can become like that snatching of the pencil to look busy. Maybe it’s when we pray, or give, or sing, that we feel a little bit of relief, not because we see more of God, but that we feel that He sees less of us. Our offerings let us fly under His eyes and hide out by keeping a low profile. “Do your duty and you won’t have to slow down”. “Give a tithe check and then you can worry about generosity again in two weeks.” “Pray this prayer and you’re good until the next morning or next meal”. “Read the devotional, even if you didn’t really understand it, but feel relief that at least you did it”.
Fear mostly wants the eyes of God to look away, so, like Adam, it sews on fig leaves to cover its sense of nakedness. Fear leads to hiding out.
Recently, there have been many Pastors who have been exposed for double lives and scandal. These men know the word of God, but it’s often because they think that they are doing so many good works that they can live behind them, that their efforts take God’s eye off of them and they never have to deal with God Himself.
2. Fear works for repayment.
Service and personal devotion become more to appease a creditor than acts of love. We feel that we are in debt, so we scrounge up what we have and try to give it away. And like paying a bill, it’s a burden when you feel that you get one in the mail, but a relief for a moment when you send the check. Sometimes we feel that God is presenting us with a bill — a debt that we must repay. And sometimes we feel relief that it was paid last week with something we did for God. But God saved us by grace—It’s a gift, not a loan.
Perfect love casts out all fear. Again, it’s not God who is fickle; it’s us.
Summary:
Do you ever feel that God is simply blackmailing you? You’ve recieved a letter that says, “all is found out! But you can get off easily if you work for me”?
Even for the most seasoned Christian, do you ever feel that your obedience is some sort of repayment, restitution, or covering of an embarrassment than from peace and joy and freedom?
This text is here to remind us that it’s true that you are completely exposed before the eyes of a holy God. But because of God’s goodness and loving kindness, He saved you. All is known and all is forgiven. Good works now come from a sense of humility and gratitude.
Pride (vv.4-7)
Pride (vv.4-7)
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4–7, ESV)
Explanation:
Again, this text is a reminder to the Christian. Our first reminder was that you were not disqualified for salvation because of your sins. And this text reminds the Christian that you were not qualified for salvation because of your righteousness.
Illustration: Thirteen Lives movie — “If you tried to help, you would die”
Look at the…
Motivations for Salvation: Goodness, lovingkindness, and Mercy of God
Means of Salvation: The washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (v.5).
Result of Salvation: Justification by grace and becoming heirs of eternal life (v. 7).
But this section is put here as a reminder not to boast.
Like fear, pride can also be a good motivator. And we can be compelled to do ‘good works’ for the wrong prideful reasons.
If fear is motived by hiding out or by repayment, pride is motivated by value and validation. Fear leads us to pacify God, and pride leads us to justify ourselves. Our good works are done because they add to our significance and they set us apart from others.
Again, this is a reminder to Christians.
Jesus tells a story about a Pharisee who sees a Tax Collector and prays, “Lord, thank you that I am not like other men.” And then he rattles off all of the good things that he does for God — all the things that set him apart and above others. And you know what our response to reading about this prideful hypocrite can often be? “Lord, thank you that I am not like that Pharisee.” And then we rattle off to ourselves all the ways that we are not like him.
The point is that good works aren’t to be done to add a sense of value or superiority to your life.
Key thought: ***Pride says, “I’m special because of what I do,” but humility says, “I’m special because of God’s grace.”
Key Questions: Are there any areas where our identity has shifted from what Christ has done for me to what I do for Christ? Are there things that we do (good works) that make up our sense of security, validation of self, or distinction among others?
In our devotion and service, do those people or actions really matter that much, or are we chiefly concerned that a record is being kept somewhere on our account?
Remember those who were shocked on that day that they were rejected by Christ, they rattled off all of their works to Jesus and thought that it validated them.
You can also see why this text is set in a broader context of chapter 3 of serving your neighbors from humility.
Even to the Christian, this text asks, “What makes you so special?”
Often we can say the right answer but in the wrong spirit.
We answer rightly, “the grace of God” sets us apart. But it’s possible to be saying “the grace of God has made me not like other men”.
But God’s word reminds us, “Then why are you boasting?”
Humility leads us to serve indiscriminately — this calls back to last week on the focus to rulers and neighbors, those who are hard to serve sometimes.
Take Jesus’ image of a city set upon a hill. The idea is that someone who needs refuge and reprieve can see the church as a lighthouse, a place to dwell and belong and get help. But pride turns the city on a hill into a private club, a place to look down upon those who aren’t on the inside.
***Pride says, “I’m special because of what I do,” but humility says, “I’m special because of God’s grace.”
And that moves us to our third motivation - the right one
Grace
Grace
“so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7, ESV)
What this text is not doing is to say, your motives are all corrupt, and you’re really no good at all, even if you think you are. It challenges them, for sure, but the thrust of the text is not to be discouraged in yourself but to be encouraged by the overabundant grace of God! That’s the point .
This text reminds us that the worst things that we have done didn’t separate us from God, and that the best things that we do don’t unite us to God. It’s all a work of grace. It’s all a gift.
And as far as fuel for good works goes, we need to see that grace is not just the pardon of God on our lives, but the power of God in our lives.
Grace is what “must be insisted upon”(v.7) because grace gets the fuel just right. We serve because we are glad in God. Gratitude, not fear or pride, tells a dual story to those in the world — 1), that God has changed and redeemed our lives from foolish, slavish, and relational enmity, and 2) that we are mobilized by the energy of authentic joy. Our good works are acts of worship, not repayment, and not fig leaves to hide behind, and not the putting on of airs.
So be careful to devote yourselves to good works. To things that are excellent and profitable for people.” (Titus 3:8, ESV)
Those works aren’t spelled out here in the text, but given the categories of our former lives in v.3 (foolish, slavish, relational enmity), how might our good works look different?
Those who were once foolishness now walk in wisdom. The fool is always falling in a pit or in a trap. Maybe your life now isn’t like that. You don’t find yourself always in the drama of sin like some of the people you know. But this not because of pride, it’s by the grace of God.
Those who were once slaves to passions and the flesh are now slaves to Christ. But we must make sure that our works aren’t done in fear, placating a master that we wish would leave us alone. We should be like the slave in Exodus 21:5 that, “I love my master I will not go free” (Exodus 21:5)
Those whose lives were filled with malice, envy, hated and hating now walk in love because we have been loved by the goodness, kindness and mercy of God.
Grace not only pardons the Christian, it powers the Christians.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God cares about the "fuel" that powers our good works. Our motivations matter, and we need to make sure we’re doing good things for the right reasons.
Fear can motivate you, making you run hard to cover your tracks and cloak the smell of your sin under the perfume of your own good works. But those works can’t save you. And your relationship with God will be one of insecurity in the shadow of fear. But God knows your sins and your frame and has saved you. His perfect love casts out fear.
Pride can also be a great motivator. We can run hard to good works because they validate you and set you apart. That you are not like other people, and your value lies in keeping that separation known. But what do we have that is not a gift? Any advantage that you see in your life over that of a neighbor is a grace and not a result of your works.
But grace is the proper motivator. Not only does the kindness of God push us away from works of self and sin, it propels by the fuel of gratitude, not fear. It’s superior to pride with its walls and barriers to others and it knocks them down, making sure that we are holy and set apart in the world instead of haughty and set apart from the world.
Paul’s goal in this reminder is that regeneration should demonstrate a devotion to good works: wisdom among a world of foolishness, freedom among a world of slaves, and love among a world of envy. Not because we are more qualified, but because of the goodness, kindness, and mercy of God.
†THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Minister: Lift up your hearts!
Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!
Congregation is seated. Tell them to turn to the Nicene creed (p.852) in Trinity Hymnal.
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
// ad hoc invitation – use below if needed //
At some point during the service of worship every Sunday, each of us is hopefully reminded about the redemption we have in Christ and how we are washed clean by his blood. Perhaps it’s in the sermon, or maybe a hymn, or the prayers, and certainly the confession. We know that Jesus has died and that his death and resurrection have made us clean and able to live for him in righteousness.
Yet as we examine our own lives, or even just hear the law read aloud, we are very aware of the continuing presence of sin. Just as it can be easy to take God’s forgiveness for granted, we can also easily get discouraged with the progress we’re making in holiness.
It is a blessing of the Christian life that God is so patient with us and uses many means to call us to repentance and to remind us of his call to holiness.
Likewise, God uses different means to remind us of the forgiveness he offers to the repentant and the righteousness he provides for us in Christ. No matter how sanctified we become or how serious about obedience we are, no one can come to this table as a worthy recipient of God’s gifts. We strive to be like our savior and to live after his holy way, but those who come to this table recognize that in themselves they are entirely unworthy to receive it. Yet we come. We come because as we repent from that unworthiness, we trust by God’s grace that we are welcomed here on account of Christ’s righteousness and not by our own merit.
This meal provides a witness to the power of God’s love for sinners in the death and resurrection of his son. It provides the promise of grace to all who believe. It provides a means whereby his children, in public reception of these elements, and in response to the great gifts of God conveyed by them, can show forth their faith in God by offering themselves to Him in love and praise.
// ad hoc invitation – use above if needed. Always use below. //
This table welcomes all who confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and who have the hope of salvation brought forth by his life, death, and resurrection. It is for all who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and continuing union with his Church.
This meal cannot make you righteous; no human action can. But this meal can covey the grace of God to you and unite you, by faith, in the one who is righteous. By the power of the Spirit, who meets with God’s people here; we, though still sinners, can endeavor by that same Spirit to live holy lives before God. Come, you who desire to be followers of God – taste and see that the Lord is good.
Let’s confess our faith together. Christians, what do you believe?
CONFESSION OF FAITH
The Nicene Creed p. 852 or The Apostles Creed p. 851
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
The body of the Lord, broken for you, take and eat.
The blood of the Lord, shed for the forgiveness of sins. Take and drink.
PRAYER
†OUR RESPONSE #572
“Gloria Patri”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE
The blessing of God, the giver of every good and perfect gift; and of christ, who summons us to service, and of the Holy Spirit, who inspires generosity and love, goes and abides with you all. Now and forevermore, Amen.
Grace Notes Reflection:
In Titus 3:3-8, Paul encourages the church in Crete to stay committed to doing good works (v.8). But in his message, he carefully explains the right reasons for their actions. Paul reminds them that all their sins are fully known and completely forgiven. Their past mistakes, no matter how bad, didn’t disqualify them from God’s grace. So, when they do good works, they shouldn’t be driven by fear. They don’t owe God a “debt” they have to repay for His kindness. Their service to Him isn’t like paying off a bill that’s due.
Paul also warns them not to be motivated by pride. They weren’t saved because of any good deeds they had done (v.5). Instead, they were saved because of God’s goodness, love, and mercy (vv.4-5). If bad works didn’t disqualify them from grace, their good works didn’t qualify them for it either.
Fear might make us hide from God or serve Him out of obligation. Even if we don’t feel scared of Him, we should ask ourselves: Are there parts of our lives we’re trying to keep away from God’s attention? Do we ever feel relieved after giving, praying, or helping because it feels like we’ve “paid our dues”? Do we think our good deeds can cover up sins we’re holding onto?
Pride can be just as sneaky. Like the Pharisee who prayed, “Thank you, Lord, that I’m not like other people,” do we ever feel like our good deeds make us better or more valuable? Do we see them as points in our favor? Remember what happens to those who come to Jesus bragging about their good works—they are rejected.
Paul isn’t calling for morbid introspection with everything you do, instead he is calling for grace to be so central to Christian teaching and discipleship, that the elders are the “insist upon these things” (v.7) so that the fuel for good works among the Church is gratitude and worship as it keeps its gaze on the goodness, lovingkindness, and mercy of its savior.